Process of producing cod-liver oil



Patented 16, 1.924.

[PATENT 'oFFicE.

EDWARD MEAD JOHNSON, JR, OE EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING COD-LIVER OIL.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD MEAD JOHN- SON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Evansville, in the county of Vanderburg and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Producing Cod-Liver Oil, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of producing oils from fish livers, and more parti iularly to a process of producing cod liver 01.

My improved processconsists in rendering cod liver oil directly from livers, withoutthe use of heat, such oil being free from stearine,

Heretofore the process of rendering oil from livers consisted in applying heat, either I or steam j ackby direct steam or hot water, eted kettle. The heat disintegrates the'connective tissue of the cells to burst open and give up their oil. When oil is rendered by such a process, from twenty to thirty per cent-of stearine comes over with the oil,dependin upon the length of time during which heat is applied,

In order to use cod liver oil so rendered for medicinal purposes,-it has been customary to remove the stearine by another and separate procedure. The removal of the stearine has been accomplished by freezing the previously rendered oil at 15 to 18 F. whereupon the stearine in the oil congeals. This stearine is then removed by placing the frozen oil in fine mesh calico or muslin bags. Theoil drips from these bags and the stearine remains behind, provided the freezing temperature is maintained. Such oil, with 1 the stearine removed, is marketed as refined,

non-freezing, medicinal oil. By my improved process, freezin rectly from stearine. v

ThisI accomplish by subjecting the fresh livers to a temperature several degrees below the freezing point and maintaining the livers in a frozen condition until the oil is pressed therefrom.

.By this method, the water in the livers is 'turnedinto ice, the ice cr stals breaking up the cellular structure 0 the livers being treated and putting them. in condition so that when pressure, is applied, the oil can readily flow out. The freezing also hasthe efiect .of solidifying the stearine so that livers and causes the to use, also,

effect 0 retaining in the wing out of the 'oil. initially all of the solid thereby producing an oil the refined, nonmedicinal oil can be produced di-' om the livers, and is initially free Application filed. June 14, 1924. Serial No. 720,125.

able containers, preferably linen bags, susroom kept at a tempended from rods in a This below freezperature below freezing.

by circulating a suitablefreezing compoun through The nezit step is to subject the livers to pressure in any suitable press whereby the oilwill flow out. from the livers may be facilitated if desired,

conduits orpipes laid in the roomf The extraction of the oil.

, ving temperature maybe readily maihtaineg by reducing the livers to small particles by grinding or otherwise, step. v

' It .is essential tained in frozen condition throughout the process, so that no emulsion will be formed before the pressing that the livers be main in the finished product. It-may be desirable in connection with the press, a fabric or other filtering medium to retain solid particles'while permitting only pure, clear oil to flow therethrough;

My improved method not only produces a relatively large quantity of oil as compared to the uantity of liver fats or stearine, characterized by a lack of smell and taste, and having a desirable lightcolor. If any small quantity ofrecoverable oil be left in.the mass of solids retained in the press or filter after practicing my invention, the same may be recovered by. any well known methods, such as boiling out the pressed residue with water. In such case the oil will separateand come to the surface and maybe removed; It will be un derstood that this oil is not clear of stearine and must bereduced in temperature in order to permit the stearine to be'removed.

I claim as my invention: 7 1. The process of producin cod liver oil which consists in freezing co livers and in pressingthe'livers while in a frozen condition to extract the oil therefrom.

treated, but has the. solid mass and keep-- of the 1% to form ice crystals therein and rupture Witnesses:

2. The process of producin cod, liver oil liver to small particles and then pressing the which consists in freezing t e liver suifioil therefrom. t r ciently to form icecrystals therein and rup- In testimony, that Iclaim the foregoing ture the cellular structure thereof, mainas my invention I aflix my signature, inthe 6 taining the liver in frozen condition and presence of two witnesses, this 10th day of pressing the oil therefrom. June, 1924:. I s t 3. The processof producing cod liver oil 1 which consists in freezing the liver suflicient- EDW'ARD MEAD JOHNSON, J R.

e cellular structure thereof, maintalning B.-L. MACGREGOR, the liver in frozen condition, reducing the TAYLOR E. BROWN. 

